Official Windows 7 SKUs revealed: six editions

After a ton of guesswork and rumors flying around, Microsoft has finally confirmed what much of the evidence was pointing to: there will indeed be six editions of Windows 7, just like there were for Windows XP and Windows Vista. Customers will be able to choose from Windows 7 Starter Edition, Windows 7 Home Basic Edition, Windows 7 Home Premium Edition, Windows 7 Professional Edition, Windows 7 Ultimate Edition, and Windows 7 Enterprise Edition. The news comes hot on the heels of the Windows 7 Ecosystem Readiness Program announced yesterday.
All editions will be available in worldwide markets except for Home Basic, which will be offered in emerging markets. Starter will be also available worldwide but only via OEMs.
We know emerging markets have unique needs and we will offer Windows 7 Home Basic, only in emerging markets, for customers looking for an entry-point Windows experience on a full-size value PC. We’ll also continue to offer Windows Starter edition, which will only be offered pre-installed by an OEM. Windows Starter edition will now be available worldwide. This edition is available only in the OEM channel on new PCs limited to specific types of hardware.​
Most users will only Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate, which is why Microsoft is expected to only offer upgrade paths for these three. Microsoft will have a press release on this news over at PressPass (not available at publishing time).

Full Story: Official Windows 7 SKUs revealed: six editions - Ars Technica
 
Click to expand...
Finally a solid decision!

Lol. Hey what does OEM mean again? I always forget.

~Lordbob
 

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Original Equipment Manufacturer
 

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I think he read the last post up here about that.

~Lordbob
 

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So, when does Vista stop receiving support? Glad I paid for it only to be shoved another OS to purchase. I'm glad 7 is so wonderful. Why not fix Vista? I guess 7 is just a fixed Vista with another price tag attached? Vista beta testers....which we all are, now have to get yet another OS. I guess it makes it all good and no one will mind because 7 is so stable. Computers are nothing but something else on the list that requires maintenance.
 

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Slimy said:
You don't have to get Windows 7. Vista SP2 is just around the corner ;)
Click to expand...
Oh is it? Good. What has been changed?

~Lordbob
 

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Exactly! What changes? Is it a Windows7 type change? Honestly, with all the ills Vista has created and all the beta testing with an OS that was paid for either off the shelf OEM computers or users installing over XP, I would think MS make a SP2 for Vista that is in essence Windows 7. Really, I just feel like a beta test who paid of the beta, worked out the bugs and the reward is another OS to pay for. I get the feeling I'm not alone in this line of thinking.
 

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    Samsung SyncMaster 206bw
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    1680x1050
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Thanks Slimy.

~Lordbob
 

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    not fast enough
Great, us bug reporters get bug fixes. I'm so glad we could make Windows 7 so much better and we get to pay for it when it is available. Just sweet. Don't get me wrong. I love Vista, I just think we were a bit hoodwinked with Vista and nothing but paying beta testers.
 
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Hi avg,

The problem is, Vista got such a bad press, M$ had to get something else out fast - that being 7.

Of course, with a new o/s to peddle, they're not going to make any actual improvements to Vista - there's no money in it. They hope Vista users will, as you say, all buy the new one.

If Vista had got a better reception , they probably would be improving it, as it continued to sell. So you can blame the wild over reaction of the press.

The article linked to halfway down the one Slimy posted is interesting ( cash grab ). Pretty much what I had been thinking myself.

Why modular Windows will suck for Microsoft and suck for you - Ars Technica

SIW2
 

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And that my friend is bad business. If we had purchased a car that broke down all the time, it should be fixed,yes, or should the automaker just create a new model and sell the car buyer this car because "it is better now"? In my state, it is called The Lemon Law and cars that break down all the time fall under this law. Automakers is to replace the vehicle after the vehicle has been in the shop three times for the same problem. Purchasers of Vista have been taken to the cleaners. Bad press or not, MS should offer up 7 for free or at a substantually reduced charge for those that already have bought into Vista. So, we are basically stuck with a crap OS that receives no support or continued support thus forcing users to purchase the new 7 OS. Talk about contrived. What MS needs to do is create SP2 for Vista that changes the OS to 7 and names it 7. Not wrap up the crap OS that MS made millions on and just say oh well, here buy this, it is all better now. Yes, it is a cash grab and it is done under duress because Vista was and is bug filled. Vista owners, in short, are stuck holding the bag. No intentions of fixing it says MS, so just buy this one instead. I guess this is the only way MS can figure out how to pay for the "Vista Ready" claim they made years ago only to find these computers were not "Vista Ready". You see, bad press or not, MS earned the bad press for the bug riddled OS. The press just did not make it up. You load an OS that is supposed to be great. The next thing you know, your computer hardward does not work anymore and smoke is pouring out of the fan duct. Two years of struggles by MS fans in beta testing Vista and then forcing another OS down their throats for more cash not the way to retain the faithful customer base.
 

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avgwarhawk said:
So, when does Vista stop receiving support? Glad I paid for it only to be shoved another OS to purchase. I'm glad 7 is so wonderful. Why not fix Vista? I guess 7 is just a fixed Vista with another price tag attached? Vista beta testers....which we all are, now have to get yet another OS. I guess it makes it all good and no one will mind because 7 is so stable. Computers are nothing but something else on the list that requires maintenance.
Click to expand...

No one is forcing you to upgrade from Vista...Vista will have support for at least several years.
 

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avgwarhawk said:
Exactly! What changes? Is it a Windows7 type change? Honestly, with all the ills Vista has created and all the beta testing with an OS that was paid for either off the shelf OEM computers or users installing over XP, I would think MS make a SP2 for Vista that is in essence Windows 7. Really, I just feel like a beta test who paid of the beta, worked out the bugs and the reward is another OS to pay for. I get the feeling I'm not alone in this line of thinking.
Click to expand...

Again, no one is forcing you to upgrade to 7......
 

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